Candles and More: Merchandise at Bath and Body Stores

By Sara Karnish

Scented merchandise and candles serve a dual purpose for customers at bath and body stores. The products lend a bit of everyday extravagance with their aromatic fragrances and lush textures. Most of the small-batch, handmade products are made with gentle, natural ingredients that provide much-needed relief to customers with skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and other sensitivities.

Lisa Miller , owner of Forever Clean Soap Works in St. Joseph, Mich., said their biggest sellers are their Shower Steamers, which she described as “a little head-clearing tablet of goodness”, made with mint, eucalyptus, and menthol. “It’s similar to a bath bomb. When the steam from the shower hits it, everything clears up. They sell well because word got around that they’re awesome. Not only are they good for opening up your sinuses due to allergies or a cold, they just give you a little boost in the morning.” Customers are more mindful of what they put in and on their bodies. “I think people are looking for more natural products. They’re getting away from detergents and chemicals that are in so many products. We can pronounce everything that’s in our products,” Miller said.

Amanda Beam , store manager at Pocono Soap in Stroudsburg, Pa., said their best-sellers are their handcrafted soap and soy candle collection. “They sell well for us because we make them ourselves, offer them in many scents, and tailor our branding and scent selection to our local tourism industry,” she explained.

Matthew Williams , who co-owns Mount Royal Soaps in Baltimore, Md., with partners Samantha Illes and Patrick Illes, said, “People love our bar soap and candles because they smell so good. We use lots of essential oils and fragrances which aren’t overpowering to give you a headache. Our shampoo and conditioner bars are also very popular because they are an innovative, zero-waste product. They come in a metal tin and last as long as a 16-ounce plastic bottle of shampoo would, minus the plastic!”

Holly Rutt , founder and creative director of The Little Flower Soap Company in Chelsea, Mich., said small stocking stuffer-type items like lip balms and certain soaps are in demand during the holiday season. “People are looking for small gifts, and they don’t just buy one—they might buy 10 or 12,” Rutt said. “Anything small and in that price range [grab and go items] is an easy purchase.” Little Flower has a retail store,

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